Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about the importance of elders and seniors within our community, families, culture, and our overall society.
Mr. Speaker, the generations of today stand on the shoulders of those that came before us. In Dene culture, Mr. Speaker, and in many other cultures, elders have historically been our knowledgeholders, our knowledgekeepers, and they provide guidance on the cultural ways and protocols.
Those who respect the elderly pave their own road to success. That is an African proverb. An elderly person at home is like a living golden treasure. That is a Chinese proverb. A youth that does not cultivate friendship with the elderly is like a tree without roots. That is a Central African proverb. We all can't walk on one path but we can all work together as our people for our children and for the future. That is a Dene proverb from a Dene elder in Lutselk'e.
It's like the old adage goes, Mr. Speaker, that if we do not want to repeat the same mistakes of our history, then we must learn from our past, and who better to learn from regarding our history than our elders of today who have lived, breathed, and experienced so much in their life times, especially for Indigenous people who traditionally use oral history to transmit knowledge, culture, customs to their successive generations.
Mr. Speaker, it was with utmost importance that we take care of and engage with our elders in a good way and that we protect them from being forgotten or undermined of their inherent value because they hold a vast, diverse, and invaluable knowledge that has contributed to the North that we call home. Without the elders who came before us, we would not be here today. At least I know that, for me, without my elders I myself might not be standing in this House as an elected official today. And for that I owe them a debt of gratitude and respect for helping pave the way before us. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from the Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
